Why It's Healthier to Eat With Your Fingers Instead Of With A Fork?

                           VS

Around the world many people eat with their hands. Especially, in the east. If you visit such countries as: Morocco, Malaysia, India, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia you will see people eating with their hands. Many people from these countries are Muslim. It is the sunnah (way) of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) to eat with your hands. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) ate with his right hand and using his three fingers. After he finished eating he would lick his fingers to make sure he didn't waste any food, because you don't know in which food there is blessings. He always finished what he was chewing in his mouth first, before he would reach to take any more food in his hands. He also chewed his food approximately 80 times. He never ate alone. He always shared his food with other companions. We can learn a lot from his sunnah and to implement these things in our daily lives as well.

However, here in the west it is considered uncivilized to eat with your hands. Also, here in the west we have some of the most unhealthiest people in the world too. We are suffering from so many health ailments. Obesity has sky rocketed just in the last couple of years. People have been fooled by pharmaceutical companies into thinking that prescription drugs is the only way to solve health problems. I think the west should be open to trying anything that will make them healthier. We have the best technology in the world. Yet we are the sickest people in the world. Obviously, the west isn't doing something right. Don't you agree? If something so simple as eating with your hands is helpful to your health. I think that people should give it a try.

So, why is it healthier to eat with your hands?

1. It promotes cleanliness. If you know that you will be eating with your hands you will be more likely to wash them before and after you eat.

2. Eating with your hands and using three fingers limits the amount of food you eat and it helps with being aware of the food you are eating, and it is helpful in preventing overeating.

3. By using your hands you can tell if the food is hot or not and prevent burning oneself, instead of just digging in with a fork.

4.  When you eat with your fingers certain digestive enzymes are released by the fingers which aid in the digestion process.This also inhibits the deficiency of insulin, in addition to aiding the diabetics. Licking the fingers clean after eating insures that digestive enzymes are properly consumed and swallowed into the stomach which helps the eyes, the brain and the stomach. This is a great cure for various stomach ailments, brain diseases and heart problems. 

Cleanliness is such a big factor for me. You know if your hands are clean. Sometimes you can't be sure if the fork or spoon you are given is really clean or not. Especially, if you are at a restaurant. They might not wash dishes as good as you do. How many times have you looked at the fork or spoon you were given, and you said to yourself, "This doesn't look clean". No one can really be certain. However, eating with your hands you are definitely sure. I don't know about you, but I hate to waste food. Sometimes eating with your hands you can get to parts of the food better, than you can with a fork or knife. Thus, it cuts down on wasting food. Seeing that eating with your fingers aids in your digestion. Digestion is a big part in keeping us healthy. If our digestive system is not working properly we can experience so many health problems and it makes us miserable. A healthy digestive system is definitely a component to having good health.

The decision to eat with your hands is ultimately yours. I  suggest if you haven't already tried it than maybe you should.